What Does a Credit Repair Specialist Do?

You may be curious to know the role of a credit repair specialist if you’re thinking of hiring a credit repair specialist to clean up your credit report or even considering becoming one yourself.

For those who need credit repair services, you can better understand whether hiring a specialist is in your best interest and determine which specialists are right for you. And, if you’re interested in becoming a credit repair specialist, it’s important to understand the job so you can set yourself and your clients up for success.

Legitimate credit repair specialists work with consumers to clean up their credit reports and begin improving their credit.

Credit Repair Specialist Certifications

There are no specific requirements or licensing required for credit repair specialists. This can make it hard to tell who’s legitimately qualified to work on your credit and who you should stay away from. The current law for credit repair companies is designed to protect consumers from being taken advantage of by dishonest credit repair specialists and other credit repair businesses. The law outlines what credit repair specialists can and cannot do, but not who can and cannot perform credit repair services.

While there’s no law or governing body for credit repair specialists, there are professional organizations that educate and provide certifications that can help weed out non-qualified credit repair specialists. Look for a credit repair specialist who is certified by a non-profit organization like the or the , not a credit repair software company.

There are no education requirements to become a credit repair specialist, but a degree or experience in finance or a related field can be beneficial.

What Knowledge Should a Credit Repair Specialist Have?

A credit repair specialist should be knowledgable in the laws affecting credit and credit repair. This includes the Credit Repair Organizations Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act. They should also understand the government agencies involved in consumer rights––the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Credit repair specialists should be aware of their state’s credit repair laws and bond requirements for credit repair organizations and debt collectors.

Independent vs. Employed Credit Repair Specialists

Some credit repair specialists may work with a credit repair company or a multi-level marketing business. If this is the case, it’s important to vet the organization in addition to the individual specialist you’re working with. In the case of those who work with multi-level marketing businesses, be aware that the person who signs you up may not be the person who works on your credit. In addition, with a credit repair MLM, you may be recruited to join the business and recruit others.

The Law for Credit Repair Specialists

The credit repair specialist may be subject to the Credit Reporting Organizations Act––a law that prevents credit repair companies from taking advantage of consumers.

A credit repair specialist should charge you only after services have been performed for you. They should not guarantee specific results or promise that information will be removed from your credit report. Credit repair specialists are required by law to provide you with a written contract before performing any services on your behalf.

They should make sure you’re aware of your rights to dispute information on your own for free. Credit repair specialist should give you a three-day waiting period in which you’re allowed to cancel your contract. They also should not ask you to waive any rights.

What Do Credit Repair Specialists Do

Credit repair specialists review your full credit reports from all three credit bureaus. They may ask you to bring in your credit report or they may use software to pull your credit report information. A knowledgable credit repair specialist will scour your credit report looking for information that can be removed based on the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Reputable specialists will not recommend you dispute everything from your credit report just to see what falls off and what stays.

Credit repair specialists assist in preparation of the appropriate letters to the credit bureaus and to debt collection agencies. These letters should be specific to your credit information, not blanket dispute letters that may be ignored by the credit bureaus. They may mail the letters on your behalf or provide the letters for you to mail.

Professional credit repair specialists can provide a variety of options for how to handle negative items on your credit report, give you the pros and cons of each, and help you decide the best way to proceed based on your circumstances and your long-term credit and financial goals. These options may include disputing, paying off, negotiating removal, settling, or waiting out the credit reporting time limit.

Information Security and Privacy

The information a credit repair specialist collects from you can be used to steal your identity if it lands in the wrong hands. Privacy is very important for maintaining your credit repair results. Credit repair specialists should have a system for protecting the privacy of their clients. They should have a written privacy policy telling you what information is collected and how the information will and will not be used. If your information is submitted electronically, make sure it is encrypted and securely stored to prevent fraud and identity theft.